Get your insurance in order.

Here are some insurance tips to help you both before and after the storm.

Before

Read your policy carefully every year and ask questions long before a storm approaches. Understand what is and what is not covered. Insurance laws change from year to year.

Be certain your agent is reputable and knows local building codes, welcomes questions and is willing to explain things clearly.

Don’t wait. Most insurers suspend selling new policies or increasing existing coverage when a hurricane approaches Florida.

Check websites. Florida consumers having difficulty finding good coverage at reasonable rates can find helpful information at floir. com.

Update your policy so your home is insured for whatever it costs to replace it. Older homes that don’t meet current building codes must be upgraded, which increases the cost of rebuilding them. “If you have an older home that you customized, you want to make sure this is reflected in your replacement cost estimate so the home can be rebuilt with the upgrades you added,” said Lynne McChristian, of the Insurance Information Institute.

Flood insurance must be purchased separately if you want it. Policies are not effective until 30 days after you make a payment. Go to floodsmart.gov.

After

Call your insurance agent immediately. Most major insurers have toll-free phone numbers.

Begin making temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Save all receipts. But don’t make permanent repairs until an insurance adjuster has inspected it.

Insurers usually don’t pay for removal of trees or debris that blew into your yard without damaging an insured structure.

Let your insurer know how to reach you if your home is uninhabitable or you move somewhere else temporarily.

Don’t assume that adjusters will know what street they are on. Industry officials say spray-painting important information on homes after a hurricane has proven effective.

Your name and correct address should be sufficient for an adjuster to match you and your policy. Don’t include your policy number; someone else may take advantage of that.

Be patient. Insurers usually send adjusters to the worst-hit homes first.

Many adjusters and agents are authorized to issue checks on the spot to cover temporary housing.